The group that had been gathered around us quickly dispersed, leaving me to my demise.
“Although,” I continued, “it’s gonna look pretty pathetic to the cops and everyone else that your attack dog has pounded the shit out of a woman on crutches.” I couldn’t stop myself. I was essentially begging this massive wall of flesh to annihilate me. I suppose it was because I knew that as long as we came back to New Orleans I’d always have to worry about the confrontation. I just wanted to get it over with.
Ug, the unibrowed cave girl, seemed to be waiting for the signal from Carla and stood at the ready just behind Adrienne.
“Give me a hundred and fifty bucks, Hayden, or have it beaten out of you,” Carla said with a smirk.
“You drive a Lexus, you make a ton of money despite being an asshole,” I said, watching the behemoth out of the corner of my eye. “A hundred fifty dollars is a drop in the bucket for you. This is not about the money. It’s your pathetic attempt to humiliate me as I did you. And you’re not getting one red cent out of me.”
Tall, pale, and ugly made a move toward me. Adrienne spun around on her bar stool facing the woman who was about to inflict a lot of pain on me.
“Do you really want to go to jail for assault and battery tonight?” she asked. “Because you surely will, and for what? A woman who has a history of cheating on her lovers. You doubt her fidelity, and you’re willing to do this anyway?”
That stopped Ms. Frankenstein in her tracks, her surprised eyes settled on Adrienne. “What do you know?” she asked, not with the defensive tone I expected, but with a sadness as if she dreaded the answer.
“What everyone else knows in this town, and I’ve only been here for a few days.” Adrienne leaned closer to the woman. “How long are you going to allow her to play you?”
I actually felt a sliver of sympathy for the woman as her gaze left Adrienne and settled on Carla, who looked incredibly guilty. She stared at her for a long time, then looked around at the crowd, who stood watching at a safe distance. “Good night,” she said and walked out of the bar without saying another word.
Carla leapt from the barstool and yelled “bitch!” in my face before running after her new ex.
I gave Adrienne a kiss that left us both breathless. “You know, honey, sometimes that gift of yours is a real pain in the ass, but times like tonight, it’s a real lifesaver.”
Adrienne and I slept straight through breakfast the next morning. We’d closed down the bar the night before and dragged in at nearly three a.m. We’d drunk way too much and took a cab home, leaving the rental car at the club. After showers and Tylenol, we talked Wanda into giving us a ride to pick up our car. While we were out, we did a little last-minute shopping at the French Market and managed to make a stop at the Riverwalk mall, as well.
We’d purchased all our gifts but one—Iris’s—and we were having problems agreeing on what to get. When we passed a Victoria’s Secret, I grabbed Adrienne by the arm and tugged her inside.
“Let’s get her something that will make Colie’s eyes pop out of his head.” I led Adrienne through rows of bras and panties in every color and design imaginable.
“Oh, look at this,” Adrienne said and tugged my hand.
It was a teal green nightie, shear across the breasts, and came to rest at the top of the thigh.
I rubbed at my eyes, trying to erase the image of Iris wearing the apparel that Adrienne was admiring. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. I don’t wanna think about Iris wearing this.”
“Could you see me wearing this?” Adrienne held it up against her body.
“You’d make it look good, no doubt, but I’d just prefer you naked.”
Adrienne cuffed me in the arm and made her way to the register, teal nightie in hand.
Upon our return, Wanda and Mom were busy in the kitchen preparing dinner while Dad and Jeff lounged in front of the TV. Adrienne and I helped as much as Mom would allow since our culinary skills weren’t our strong suit.
Traditionally, we had roast on Christmas Eve and turkey on Christmas Day. The smell of the roast filled my senses as I sipped a glass of wine alone in the kitchen while Adrienne and Wanda wrapped presents upstairs. Mom walked in and looked at me with an odd expression; I could tell by the way she fidgeted something bothered her.
“Hayden, honey… I’m sorry about—”
Before she could finish, Dad came into the kitchen and she clammed up. Instead, she sighed and looked at my father like he’d committed an unpardonable sin.
“Richard is here,” Dad said as he poured a glass of wine. “Come and say hello.”
“Who’s Richard?” I asked when Dad darted back out of the kitchen.
Mom clasped her hands together. “He’s a friend of your father’s. Sweetheart, this was not my idea, and I’m not happy about it.”
I cocked my head and looked at her in bewilderment. “What idea?”
“Here they are,” Dad said as he rejoined us. A nice-looking man followed close on his heels. “Hayden took a spill and broke her leg. She’s moving a little slow right now.”
“Hello, Richard,” Mom said and gave him a brief hug.
“Thank you for having me over tonight, Margaret,” he said politely and turned his eyes to me.
“Richard, this is my daughter, Hayden,” Dad said as Richard reached out and shook my hand.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Hayden. You’re all your dad talks about around the office.”
It clicked. Dad was trying to set me up with one of his associates. Never mind that I was a lesbian and my partner was upstairs.
“Nice to meet you, Richard.” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I glared at my father, causing an uncomfortable lull in the conversation. We were all standing in a circle looking at one another when the doorbell rang.
“Were we expecting anyone else, Margaret?” Dad asked.
“No, I’ll go and see who it is.”
“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” Dad said without meeting my gaze and followed Mom from the room.
Richard settled down in a chair across the table and smiled. “This is kind of awkward. I’ve never been on a blind date, though this is not really considered a date. Your dad was so excited about getting us together, but I had no idea how you felt.”
Richard babbled on for a few minutes, obviously nervous and not really knowing where to step. I was seething with anger, and it showed on my face because the more he looked at me, the more he rambled.
“Hayden,” Mom said as she entered the kitchen, “there’s someone here to see you.”
“Well, it must be my night. Richard, please excuse me,” I said and pulled myself up onto my crutches.
He stood politely and acted as though he wasn’t sure if he should assist.
When I entered the living room, I noticed a short stocky woman standing in the foyer, talking to my dad. I guessed her to be in her late sixties, possibly early seventies. She was dressed in a sport coat over khaki trousers and a blue oxford that was tucked tightly into the pants that came nearly up to her ribs. Her hair in a bowl cut was nearly all gray except for a few black streaks. She looked up at me from behind a thick pair of glasses when I approached.
“Hayden,” she said nearly with a sigh. “You were only a child the last time I saw you.”
“This is Ms. Spivic,” Mom said by way of introduction. “Remember I told you she called the other day?”
The faint recollection came into full focus, and I remembered the weekend that Aunt Gloria and I had spent with her many years ago.
“Ms. Spivic, it’s wonderful to see you again.” I did my best to give her a hug around the crutches.
“I’m sorry to come by unannounced,” Ms. Spivic said. “I have no family to speak of, so I tend to forget the relevance of the holidays.”
Her statement hung in the air for a second. She had no family, no one to celebrate with. Mom was the first to speak up and cause my dad’s face to flush.
“Then y
ou’ll just have to have dinner with us. We have plenty to go around.” Mom held up her hand, forestalling protest. “Blake has already invited a friend, so you see it’s not just a family occasion. Do say you’ll join us.”
I wished I had Adrienne’s gift at that moment, so I could hear my father’s thoughts. Mom had invited a friend of Gloria’s to dinner, and to top it off, she was obviously a dyke, right down to the men’s loafers she wore on the feet. Oh, how it must have embarrassed him in front of Richard.
“Everyone still calls me Aggie,” I heard Ms. Spivic say as Mom whisked her off to the kitchen for a glass of wine.
“Well, maybe Richard and Aggie will hit it off and she’ll steal him from me,” I said to Dad before hobbling away.
I desperately wanted another glass of wine, but I was not going back into the kitchen with Richard. Instead, I went into the living room and sat down. I could see it all over Adrienne’s face when she descended the stairs behind Wanda. She knew my thoughts and knew how badly I felt about what my father had pulled.
“It’s okay,” she mouthed as she approached.
But it wasn’t. What my father had done was a blatant slap in the face. He couldn’t have made it any plainer that he didn’t care in the least for her feelings or mine. Dad was no fool; he knew I wasn’t going to jump the fence for a handsome face. He did it to disgrace Adrienne and me.
Soon everyone was in the living room and introductions were made all around. When Dad introduced Adrienne to Richard as my friend, I watched her face. She shook his hand and smiled with far more dignity and grace than I would have.
“Adrienne,” Aggie Spivic said in the same dreamy voice as she did when she spoke my name. “You’re lovelier than I imagined. It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Gloria was one of my closest friends, and I got a real kick out of the stories she used to tell me about the inn. She said you were beautiful, but I don’t think that word does you justice.”
Aggie and Adrienne immediately bonded and moved away from the group while they discussed their mutual friend. I noticed that Aggie kept a small binder tucked under her arm and wondered if it was some oversized version of a wallet. She never put it down.
Richard and Jeff chatted about sports, but the moment Richard noticed that I wasn’t talking to anyone, he moved to my side. “Your dad tells me you love the outdoors. What are your hobbies?”
I felt bad for him. He obviously had no clue that he’d been set up for a hopeless encounter. For all he knew, I was someone who had a lot in common with him and he was hoping to get a date. For that, I took pity on him. I decided when dinner was over, I’d explain discreetly that he was barking up the wrong tree. Then Dad and I would have a chat.
“I love anything to do with the outdoors,” I said with a smile. “Adrienne and I especially love to snorkel. We spend a lot of time in the water.”
“I’ve never tried that. I had a bad experience with a jellyfish in my swimsuit, and I haven’t been to the beach since.”
“It’s never a good idea to keep one of those in your shorts,” I joked, but he failed to find the humor. “What’s your favorite outdoor hobby?”
“Soccer, I love to play it. I joined a league this summer, and we played nearly every weekend. I took the winter off after a knee injury.”
“Injuries can definitely put a damper on things, can’t they?” I looked down at my casted leg.
“Dinner is ready,” Mom said, saving me from having to play nice. “Everybody make their way to the dining room, and we’ll begin.”
Richard was kind enough to pull out my chair, then made me despise him when he took the seat next to me. Adrienne and Aggie sat across from us. I gave Adrienne an apologetic smile, which she returned. I was so angry that I could barely resist the urge to confront my father right then. Mom and Wanda had worked so hard on the amazing dinner before us that I didn’t have the heart to mess it up.
When dinner was served, an awkward silence hung over us like a fog. The clinking of knives and forks was the only sound until Aggie spoke up.
“This is a mighty fine meal,” Aggie said. She had a very precise and blunt manner of speaking that reminded me of someone who’d spent a lifetime in the military.
“Thank you,” Mom said with a smile.
“So, Richard, how’s the house coming along?” Dad asked, drawing the attention from Aggie to his guest.
“Very well, I’m almost ready to start with the cabinetry.”
“Richard is building his own home,” Dad said. “He’s done nearly all the work himself.”
“I imagine you’ll have such a feeling of accomplishment when it’s finished,” Adrienne said.
“That and an empty wallet. There are so many costs I didn’t expect. I mean the handles for all the cabinets have come to five hundred dollars alone.”
“But you’re saving a fortune by doing the work yourself,” Jeff said, adding his two cents. “And from what Dad says, the place is huge. Three stories, right?”
“You must have a lot of children,” Aggie said.
Richard cleared his throat. “I’m going to have to find a wife first, then hopefully, the kids will come along.”
“You’re building a three-story house and you don’t even have a family yet?” Aggie asked as her thick brows rose above the brim of her glasses. “Son, don’t you think you’re putting the cart before the horse?”
Mom and Dad laughed nervously to keep the mood light. I laughed because I really liked Aggie and her direct style. And I absolutely loved how Dad squirmed when she spoke.
“Maybe so,” Richard said with a smile. “But when I find the right one, we’ll have a place to live and raise a family.”
“Nothing wrong with planning ahead,” Dad said, and the conversation died. We ate again in silence for a few minutes. Adrienne caught my eye and the hint of a smirk played across her face. I knew that look well, something was about to happen.
Aggie’s gruff voice broke the silence. “I live in a two-bedroom camp. It’s all I need, and it’s paid for, too.” She looked squarely at Richard. “Status doesn’t mean squat to me.”
“You still live there?” I asked. “I remember thinking that it was the coolest place and you could fish right off the back porch.”
Aggie laughed. “I still remember you standing there not so patiently waiting for the fish to start bitin’. Long, lanky, knobby-kneed and buck-toothed.”
“You could have left out the buck-toothed part.”
“You looked like a rabbit with those teeth,” Aggie said without any trace of humor. “But now look at you. A fine grown woman in love. I have to say that you and Adrienne make a stunning couple.”
Dad began choking and gagging. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Richard’s eyes bulging and Jeff clutching his napkin to his face to keep from laughing out loud.
Aggie either didn’t notice the commotion she caused or didn’t care. I suspected the latter, as she continued. “Gloria always used to say when you two met, it would be kismet.” She clapped her hands together to accentuate the point. The sound echoed through the dining room. “She had no doubt that you two would become a couple that would last the test of time. I just hate that she’s not here to see it.”
“That’s enough,” my father said once he was able to catch his breath.
“Enough what?” Aggie looked at him with innocent eyes.
“Did you put her up to this?” Dad demanded of Adrienne.
“Don’t you dare accuse her,” I warned.
Dad glared and pointed his fork at me. “You have no respect for me or this household, and I’ll not have you flaunting what you are around here.”
“Blake, this is not the time or pl—”
“Shut up, Margaret!” Dad said and turned his attention back to me.
“No, Blake,” Mom said, her voice low and raspy as she fought to control her anger. There was a look in her eyes that I’d never seen before, and apparently Dad hadn’t either because he looked at her in shock.
The room fell deathly silent, and no one moved a muscle.
“I’m the head of this household,” Dad said.
“You won’t have a household to lord over if you don’t push back from this table right now,” Mom said between clenched teeth.
Dad threw down his napkin and stood looking at Mom as if he didn’t recognize her and left.
The rest of us sat quietly until Mom spoke. “I’ve made dessert. I’ll go get it now.”
“I’ll help you,” Wanda said and followed her to the kitchen.
“I think it’ll be a good idea if I went ahead and left,” Richard said.
I reached over and put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, I understand…I think. It was nice meeting you.” He stood and looked at everyone else. “It was nice meeting you all,” he said, then turned on one heel and made a hasty retreat.
“I should go, too,” Aggie said. “Before I do, I need to give you this.” She pushed what I had thought was her wallet across the table at me. “Gloria didn’t want this to remain on the island, so she mailed it to me with instructions to give it to you. She figured the best time to catch you here would be Christmas.”
“What is it?”
Aggie stood and looked at me. “Don’t know, never opened it. It was important to her, though.”
“Thank you,” I said as I tried to get on my feet. “I’ll see you out.”
“Don’t try to get up. You’ve busted a stem. You don’t need to go to the trouble for me.”
“I’ll see you out, Aggie,” Adrienne said as she rose.
“Aggie,” I called out as she moved from the table, “thank you…for everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jeff and I were left alone at the table. I looked over at him. He was just staring at the tablecloth.
Gloria’s Secret Page 14
